
In 'Golden Son', the second book in the 'Red Rising Saga' by Pierce Brown, readers continue to follow the protagonist Darrow as he navigates the treacherous world of Gold society. The book is filled with political intrigue, betrayals, and fast-paced action as Darrow finds himself entangled in a civil war among the ruling classes. The writing style is described as engaging, with a mix of humor, horror, and detailed world-building that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include violence, death, and themes of betrayal and trauma, reflecting the brutal nature of the story.
Has Romance?
There are romantic elements present, particularly involving Darrow and Mustang, which add complexity to the characters' relationships.
From The Publisher:
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Red Rising hit the ground running and wasted no time becoming a sensation. Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR, BUZZFEED, AND BOOKLIST
"Gripping . . . On virtually every level, this is a sequel that hates sequels-a perfect fit for a hero who already defies the tropes. [Grade:] A"-Entertainment Weekly
As a Red, Darrow grew up working the mines deep beneath the surface of Mars, enduring backbreaking labor while dreaming of the better future he was building for his descendants. But the Society he faithfully served was built on lies. Darrow's kind have been betrayed and denied by their elitist masters, the Golds-and their only path to liberation is revolution. And so Darrow sacrifices himself in the name of the greater good for which Eo, his true love and inspiration, laid down her own life. He becomes a Gold, infiltrating their privileged realm so that he can destroy it from within.
A lamb among wolves in a cruel world, Darrow finds friendship, respect, and even love-but also the wrath of powerful rivals. To wage and win the war that will change humankind's destiny, Darrow must confront the treachery arrayed against him, overcome his all-too-human desire for retribution-and strive not for violent revolt but a hopeful rebirth. Though the road ahead is fraught with danger and deceit, Darrow must choose to follow Eo's principles of love and justice to free his people.
He must live for more.
Praise for Golden Son
"Stirring . . . Comparisons to The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones series are inevitable, for this tale has elements of both."-Kirkus Reviews
"Brown writes layered, flawed characters . . . but plot is his most breathtaking strength. . . . Every action seems to flow into the next."-NPR
Don't miss any of Pierce Brown's Red Rising Saga:
RED RISING
GOLDEN SON
MORNING STAR
IRON GOLD
DARK AGE
Ratings (108)
Incredible (46) | |
Loved It (44) | |
Liked It (10) | |
It Was OK (8) |
Reader Stats (136):
Read It (113) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (17) | |
Not Interested (4) |
4 comment(s)
Don't mind my rating, I still found this to be a good book, however I didn't enjoy or got as thrilled by this second book as with the first one. But it doesn't have to be a bad thing, as second book syndrome is a thing to exist. Sure I'm in a minority here but I hope I would enjoy the next one more as im still compelled to continue
Disclaimer: I was to receive a free review ARC copy of this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, the ARC didn't arrive before the book came out and I was too impatient to wait.
How to begin to review a book like this? There are masterpieces in science fiction and fantasy that at first defy words. They are simply too great to distill down to a pithy comment or an aside.
Summary:
Golden Son starts where
Red Rising ended and I recommend you read the blurbs included before the book if you can't recall the prequel. Knowing the hierarchy and the previous book's plot is very important to following along here, although Brown does deliver rehashes here and there.
Beginning with Darrow's life after his treacherous trial and continuing through his ascent into Society,
Golden Son chronicles his difficulties in surmounting the challenges the Society presents. His band of misfits and assorted Colors help him foment a civil war that gradually stretches to all of Mars and civilization (save for maybe Earth).
His past continues to dog him and he fights against it, aware that he could be undone at any minute. Death begets death begets death. In order to break the chains, Darrow is going to have to be the catalyst he never imagined himself to be.
Review: Brown is adept at maintaining interest and in keeping suspense going. Foreshadowing helps pull the story along, as well as the increasingly human Golds that Darrow has always considered despicable. The characters fight for something that is all too real, although some characters, like Octavia, remain black and white.
Golden Son does not suffer from middle book problems. The reader is tugged along, carried, and then slammed along with Darrow. Yet, as with all first person POVs, the narration may be unreliable. Darrow's POV is rather limited, which is Brown's intent and helps keep the reader guessing at what might happen next.
Although the Society appears an unpleasant place to live, I found myself reluctant to finish the book. After devouring
Golden Son, you will want the sequel...and regret having devoured it. It is very much like
Catching Fire, particularly toward the end where the narrator realizes just how much trouble he's in.
I loved
Red Rising and I love its sequel. I highly recommend it, particularly to fans of
The Hunger Games and
Ender's Game. There's just something so compelling about a flawed protagonist slowly turning from a doe eyed innocent to the cold, ruthless sort and then falling from grace.
Five out of five stars.
2.75
I’ve been trying to figure out how to narrow down my main problem with these books. It’s the amount of stuff that happens off-stage and is not really alluded to until later. Something happens in the book and Darrow will narrate something to the effect of “We planned that back when such and such happened 200 pages ago.” Or “Yeah, *that’s* been in the works since [page 3] even though I’ve never mentioned it or hinted at it until now [page 300].” Not only does it seem kind of lazy, it holds the reader at an arm’s length. And it puts great chunks of the story into rehash mode; telling rather than showing.
Still, the story is decent and I’m still reading it. I really enjoy Severo’s character.
Another 3.5/5 - This one was better written, but with a story that was less compelling than the first book. While the first book felt like a complete story that can almost stand on its own, this one very much felt like a middle entry in a trilogy.
About the Author:
Pierce Brown is the New York Times bestselling author of Red Rising, Golden Son, and Morning Star. While trying to make it as a writer, Brown worked as a manager of social media at a startup tech company, toiled as a peon on the Disney lot…
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